Does Breastfeeding Really Help Melt Baby Weight?

I have a bit of a soft spot for the Kardashians because they remind me of my relationship with my own two sisters. Put us in a room with a bottle of wine and we're brutally honest and more crass per inch of height (I'm the tallest at 5'1") than even the most foul-mouthed truck driver.

So, I was laughing this a.m. when I read 25-year-old Khloe's comment that she wanted to start breastfeeding (no she's not preggers nor planning to get preggers) after seeing how quickly sis 31-year-old Kourtney lost her baby weight. Good question: Does breastfeeding really help new moms lose weight ASAP? Or is it just a mammary myth?

To
find out I threw the question out to some of my go-to experts and came
up with this list of things you should know about weight loss and
nursing…

* Whether you’re nursing or not,
you’ll likely lose 10 to 12 pounds in the first couple of weeks after delivery (that’s because you’re saying adios to the baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid), according to Ari Brown, MD and OBGYN Michele Hakakha, co-authors of a new book called Expecting 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy.

* Producing breast milk requires about
300 to 500 calories from you. So yes, mathematically speaking, breastfeeding absolutely helps you lose baby weight that remains after the initial sweet-the-pounds-are-melting-off-me phase. Some studies have even shown that women who go the breastfeeding route lose inches from their hips and bum faster than those who don’t.

My sisters and I after a crazy-scary prop plane ride to Block Island. The pilot thought we were total freaks… as you can tell from the look on his face.

* “The key is to resume a normal, healthful diet,” says Miriam Labbok, Director of the Carolina Global Breastfeeding institute at the University of North Carolina. “There’s a lot of stress associated with being a mom and this can lead to overeating.” Talk to your doctor about your diet and how many calories you should be consuming (a common rec is 2700, but it varies based on how much weight you gained). Often OBGYNs have an in-house nutritionist who can give you some diet pointers. For starters, check out this guide to slim snacking.

* “Breastfeeding is essentially the final stage of labor,” says Labbok. It increases levels of a hormone called oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract and shrink–further flattening your belly bump. What it won’t make shrink: Your boobs. Studies show that it’s not breastfeeding that causes the girls to sag a bit more post-baby, it’s the pregnancy itself.

* Of course, the better shape you’re in throughout your pregnancy, the more easily the pounds will come off after baby arrives (bonus benefit: studies show that women who are physically active while pregnant have a 20 percent lower risk of preeclampsia). For inspiration, check out this workout inspired by SELF’s pregnant Fitness Director Meaghan Murphy.